Preventing Suicides in Jail
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ESTABLISHED 1879 | COLUMBUS, MISSISSIPPI C DISPATCH.COM FREE! TUESDAY | AUGUST 13, 2019 Lowndes man PreVENTING SUICIDES IN JAIL pleads to L ocal authorities enhancing protocols federal child as inmate deaths rise nationally porn charges T wo other out-of-state suspects charged BY ISABELLE ALTMAN for exploiting Lowndes [email protected] teenagers n June, construction was completed on two new cells, each designed to DISPATCH STAFF REPORT Ihold only one person at a time, in the Clay County Jail. COLUMBUS — One of the cells, outfitted with a toilet A Lowndes County and some other “comforts,” is designed man previously ar- to hold inmates awaiting mental evalu- rested by local au- ations for up to 72 hours, Sheriff Eddie thorities for child Scott said. exploitation has The other, with only a mattress and pleaded guilty in fed- eral court to having a blanket thicker than the typical bed Kyles sheet, is located directly across from the child pornography on jailer’s booth and equipped with cameras his cell phone. so that it can be monitored 24/7, both Lowndes County deputies ar- by the jailers in the booth across from rested Nathaniel Kyles, 28, of Arm- the cell and by Scott’s administrative strong Road, in November after assistant in her office. It’s specifically receiving a “cyber tip” and finding designed for jail employees to keep an a DropBox account containing mul- eye on an inmate who friends, family, tiple photos and videos of what ap- other inmates or jail personnel feel may peared to be children under 18 in be in danger of dying by suicide. sexually explicit positions. Though The additional cell to the jail came Kyles has not been indicted on the just two months before the issue of local charges, he was indicted for suicides in detention facilities came “transporting and shipping” child to national attention when millionaire pornography across state borders Jeffrey Epstein died by apparent suicide and for possessing child pornog- in New York over the weekend. Epstein, raphy on his phone on Feb. 25. He pleaded guilty Wednesday and is who was facing federal charges for sex scheduled to be sentenced on Nov. trafficking and abuse of minors, had 13. been taken off suicide watch only 11 Kyles’ is just one federal child days earlier, according to national media exploitation case Lowndes depu- reports. ties have assisted with this summer “I wish we didn’t have to deal with it at that has resulted in an indictment all,” said Lowndes County Adult Deten- or conviction of someone exploiting tion Center administrator Capt. Ryan area children, said Lt. Tony Cooper, Rickert, who has also been involved in with Lowndes County Sheriff’s Of- suicide awareness outside his profession- fice. al capacity by helping organize charity On June 28, Michael James runs and raise money for Contact Help- Petrucci of Medway, Massachu- line in Columbus. setts was pleaded to coercing a He said he and his staff undergo peri- minor to engage in sexually ex- odic training on awareness and preven- plicit conduct knowing the materi- tion of suicide. al would be transmitted over state It’s a problem Scott fears is increas- lines. According to court docu- ing. ments, Petrucci spent March of “It’s really hard on the jails, but we’re 2017 trying to entice a Lowndes just incurring more and more of it over County resident under 18 to create the years, and we’re just having to deal and send sexually explicit photos to with it best we can,” he said. “It’s just him. See INMATE SUICIDE, 6A Petrucci is scheduled to be sen- tenced Oct. 29. Cooper also named Santa Anna, California, resident Ryan Abrams, who was federally indicted last week for trying to entice a 17-year- See CHARGES, 3A Local Salvation Army manager highlights services in Starkville area Red Kettle, Angel Tree campaigns garner increased local support tion since 2014. willingness to give back and to Rotary Club serve the community,” she said. BY Tess Vrbin your neighbors, supporting Winston, Webster, Choctaw, At- members have More than 1,600 people vol- [email protected] those people that you see at the tala and Lee counties. Walker’s volunteered with unteered roughly 1,620 hours grocery store and who your kid job includes assisting clients the Red Kettle of their time in last year’s Kettle One of the best things about goes to school or plays sports with social services, coordi- Campaign ev- Campaign, Walker said in her the Salvation Army, in Katie with,” said Walker, the service nating fundraisers, overseeing ery Christmas speech. In the five years she Walker’s opinion, is that 80 per- season since the has worked for the Salvation center manager for the Salva- the Salvation Army Starkville Walker cent of goods and donations to tion Army Starkville, at the Family Store on Industrial Park Salvation Army Army, the campaign has raised the Starkville branch stay in Starkville Rotary Club meeting Road, and managing and re- came to Starkville in 1984. more than $50,000 and the or- the Starkville area. Monday. cruiting volunteers and adviso- Walker said in an interview that ganization has not had to hire “If you live in Oktibbeha The local branch provides ry board members. the club’s commitment to the any bell-ringers. Volunteers al- County and you want to give food, clothing, household items She has a master’s degree in campaign for so long “just kind low the Salvation Army to use money, we want you to know and monetary assistance to social work from the University of blows my mind” sometimes. monetary donations to serve that that money is supporting families in need in Oktibbeha, of Texas and has held her posi- “It’s a testament to their See WALKER, 3A WEATHER FIVE QUESTIONS C ALENDAR LOCAO L F LKS PUB LIC 1 Jelly Belly introduced its blueberry flavor MEETINGS Friday through Sunday Aug. 13: Starkville- especially for the inauguration of what ■ Sturgis Bike Rally: This 20th president? Oktibbeha school annual motorcycle rally features 2 For which 2014 drama, featuring Steve board, 6 p.m., multiple live bands, vendors and Carell as John du Pont, did director Ben- Greensboro Center nett miller win the best director prize at more in Sturgis in Oktibbeha Aug. 16: Board of the Cannes Film Festival? County. Armbands are $15. Reg- Aldermen, 5:30 Marrisa Johnson 3 What fruit was once called a Persian ister online at msrally.com. apple? p.m., City Hall Fourth grade, South Lamar 4 Until Michael Phelps broke it 36 years later, who held the record for most gold Saturday High Low medals in a single Olympics? ■ Denim & Diamonds: This 98 77 5 What film festival was co-founded by Partly sunny, chance t-storms Oktibbeha County Heritage Robert De Niro to revitalize a Manhattan Museum benefit begins at 6:30 Full forecast on neighborhood? p.m. at the Starkville Country page 2A. Answers, 6B Club. Tickets are $50 and include a barbecue dinner and entertainment by Kannawermz. INSIDE Get tickets in Starkville at Book Bill Webb originally moved to Classifieds5B Dear Abby 4B Mart, the Heritage Museum or Columbus from North Carolina Comics 4B Obituaries 5A The Partnership. For more infor- in 1958 for the military. He is Crossword 6B Opinions 4A mation, call 662-323-0211. a retired minister. DISPATCH CUSTOMER SERVICE 328-2424 | NEWSROOM 328-2471 2A TUESDAY, AUGUST 13\, 2019 THE DISPATCH • www.cdispatch.com DID YOU HEAR? Women: Opera’s Domingo sexually harassed them, hurt careers Tuesday Accusations others in the industry say there is a troubling side to against 78-year- Domingo — one they say has long been an open se- Parts of South and Midwest old singer span cret in the opera world. Eight singers and a three decades dancer have told the AP grapple with dangerous heat wave that they were sexually BY JOCELYN GECKER harassed by the long-mar- The heat index soared to 121 degrees by late More of the same is in store for The Associated Press ried, Spanish-born super- Tuesday, when heat and humidity star in encounters that will again make for dangerous heat For decades, Placido afternoon in Clarksdale on Monday took place over three de- indexes over a wide area. However, Domingo, one of the most cades beginning in the BY JAY REEVES AND JEFF MARTIN Some of the most oppressive an approaching cool front should celebrated and powerful late 1980s, at venues that The Associated Press conditions were in Louisiana, Ar- help ease the intense heat by men in opera, has tried included opera companies kansas, Mississippi and Oklahoma. Wednesday in some areas, Chate- to pressure women into where he held top mana- BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Fore- The heat index soared to 121 lain said. sexual relationships by casters are warning about days of gerial positions. degrees by late afternoon in “If you’re going out in the sum- dangling jobs and then scorching, dangerous heat grip- One accuser said Do- Clarksdale, Mississippi; and to 119 mer, prepare for the worst,” he said. sometimes punishing the ping a wide swath of the U.S. South mingo stuck his hand degrees in West Memphis, Arkan- In the Mississippi Delta, farmers women professionally and Midwest, where the heat index down her skirt and three sas, the weather service reported. had no choice but to work in the when they refused his ad- on Monday eclipsed 120 degrees in others said he forced wet Similar readings were expected in fields Monday as they scrambled to vances, numerous accus- one town and climbed nearly that clear debris and make repairs after kisses on their lips — in eastern Oklahoma.